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The honeymoon period is over for government

Aug 20, 2020 Letters

Dear Editor,

“Dem Boys She” is spot on when it states that the government has shortened its honeymoon on account of its Cabinet and political appointments and announcement not to renegotiate oil contracts. This is the shortest honeymoon for any government, a record for the Guinness Book. I never saw a government wanting to give up power so fast. Recall, PPP governed for 23 years before becoming fed up and handing power to PNC. Now after 2.3 weeks, it wants to return power to PNC. Had PNC conceded power five months ago, PPP honeymoon would have been over in 23 hours and the government lasted 23 days. PNC may very well have been back in power already.
The people, the small parties, and the media have been willing to give the government a long honeymoon. But the government has rejected goodwill insulting the nation with the appointments. And KN has taken the government to task on the oil contract. The people have spoken on social media against the horrific appointments, the worst by any government, worse than under Granger. The public awaits the voice of the leadership of small parties on the oil contract and appointees who lack of expertise or specialization.
The small parties are the conscience of the nation. They have power to hold the government accountable. A no confidence motion is now part of the political culture of parliament. That must be done early to express displeasure with appointments. The voice of the small parties is critical for professionalism and good governance. It cannot fail in its mission to hold the government accountable. It must be prepared at all times to support a justifiable no confidence motion.
Privately, the leadership of the small parties expresses disgust for the quality of appointees. Since they pledge independence from the government, they should speak out publicly against the appointments. They must also pressure the government to pursue a renegotiation of the oil contract.
Who, if anyone, is advising Jagdeo on appointments? Why is he behaving like Lazarus bringing two of the political dead back of life – one at the UN and another in the Foreign Ministry? Will he also bring back another dead, Raja of GuySuCo, the New Yorker man flying first class every weekend shuttling between Guyana and JFK, the deadweight who fired sugar workers, turning away voters from PPP? And why is the man who made blunders in the 2011 campaign, being allowed to return in a ministry where he has no expertise? Why is the Queen of Rome rewarded when she could not deliver votes in 2011 and 2015? Did people make sacrifices so that Jagdeo could give jobs to the boys and gals? What benefits do the supporters get?
How is Nandlall taking in all of this? He closes his eyes and covers his ears! The anger is tremendous. Nandlall knows the rage on social media. Supporters are pissed off. Why isn’t he telling his boss? Supporters of the party on the ground also severely criticize the political appointments.
PPP supporters feel so betrayed by Jagdeo’s Cabinet selection and appointments. Soon they will direct their anger on Nandlall who is not condemning the political appointments. The country put their hope and future in Nandlall. His future is on the line if he does not speak up. People will not forgive him for being silent. One can feel the peoples’ anger over the appointments. They got an exchange — a replay of nepotism and cronyism not dissimilar from the predecessor APNU+AFC. They say that the PPP and PNC have really shown that they are two sides of the same coin. Nothing has changed. That is why the honeymoon is over so quickly.
If the government feels that talent is unavailable in Guyana that it must return to bring back the dead, the discredited, and the corrupt, why not tap into the diaspora that has plenty independent professionals and supporters of competence. This can stretch the honeymoon.
Yours truly,
Jagnarine Singh

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